Tennis: NZ's chances of Fed Cup promotion dashed

The New Zealand Fed Cup tennis team won their final round-robin tie at the Asia/Oceania Group II tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, overnight (NZT) but their chances of winning promotion to Group I have ended.

New Zealand beat Singapore 3-0 without dropping a set but they finished second in their pool and will now play the Philippines, who were second in the other pool, in a third and fourth playoff.

New Zealand's chances of winning promotion were virtually over when No 1 Marina Erakovic fell in the tournament hotel and dislocated her thumb on the eve of the side's 2-1 defeat to Hong Kong, New Zealand's only defeat in the round-robin. The world No 74 has returned to New Zealand for treatment.